EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PRE-SOWING TREATMENTS AND POTTING MEDIA ON SEED GERMINATION AND EARLY GROWTH OF BUSH CANDLE TREE (Canarium schweinfurthii Engl)

This study investigated the effects of different pre-sowing treatments and potting media on the seed germination and early growth of Canarium schweinfurthii. Seeds extracted from ripe fruits of the plant were sown in 4 different potting media containing different ratios of sharp sand, top soil, cow dung and saw dust. They were subjected to seven (7) pre-sowing treatments (control, light burning under dry grass, nicking, soaking in cold water for 3 days, treatment with 70% sulphuric acid for 5 minutes, treatment with 80% sulphuric acid for 5 minutes and treatment with hot water for 24 hours). A completely randomized experimental design was adopted with each treatment having five (5) replicates. Seedlings exposed to cold water treatment had the highest mean percentage germination of 45% and germination duration of 98 days, while those planted in pots containing a mixture of sharp sand, saw dust and cow dung at ratio 1:2:1 also had the highest germination percentage of 20.0%. Analysis of variance of collected data on the effects of pre-sowing treatments on growth parameters showed a significant difference (p≤0.05) at 13th, 15th – 26th weeks after germination (WAG) for seedling height and 13th – 26th WAG for stem diameter and number of leaves. Seedlings exposed to the potting medium X (which contained sharp sand, saw dust and cow dung) had highest values of growth parameters. On the other hand, nicked seeds had the highest values for all the growth rate parameters studied. Therefore, potting medium X (sharp sand, saw dust and cow dung), nicking of seeds and cold water treatment can be seen as the best options that can be used to increase the rate of germination and early growth of Canarium schweinfurthii in the nursery.